Desperate to stay afloat in the state politics in the changed dynamics, the main opposition Telugu Desam Party has been trying to plant some "positive" stories about the party's strength.
One such attempt was the reports about "Power Star" Pavan Kalyan and his actor-brother Nagababu planning to join the TDP.
Now, the party leaders are claiming that several Congress leaders from Seemandhra are raring to join the TDP.
"There are several Congress leaders willing to join us. They feel cheated and betrayed by their party," the senior TDP leader and former Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu said.
Significantly, he said "We will welcome if Pavan Kalyan and Nagababu want to join us."
However, when asked about the reports that the two brothers were in talks with Nandamuri Balakrishna on the issue of their joining the TDP, he said "I have no idea about it. But, if they come, we will welcome them."
The TDP leaders have been spreading an impression that the Seemandhra Congress leaders are convinced about the "match fixing" between their party high command and the YSR Congress Party President Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy in return for his release from jail on bail. As a result, the TDP is expecting an exodus into the party from Congress as the genral elections draw closer.
